Star Wars: The High Republic | |
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Owner | Lucasfilm |
Years |
|
Print publications | |
Novel(s) | List of novels |
Comics | List of comics |
Films and television | |
Television series | The Acolyte (2024) |
Animated series | Young Jedi Adventures (2023–present) |
Miscellaneous | |
Timeline | approx. 500 BBY—100 BBY |
Preceded by | The Old Republic |
Succeeded by | Fall of the Jedi (Prequel trilogy) [1] |
Star Wars: The High Republic is a multimedia project consisting of various stories from the Star Wars franchise set during the "High Republic" era, which spans approx. 500 to 100 years before [2] the Skywalker Saga and is set hundreds of years after the fall of the "Old Republic". The initiating event of the sub-franchise is "The Great Disaster" involving the antagonistic "space Vikings" known as the Nihil and the subsequent intervention of the Jedi.
The series' novel series is divided into three phases. [3] The first, Light of the Jedi, ran from January 2021 to February 2022. The second phase, Quest of the Jedi, started in October 2022. [4] The third phase, Trials of the Jedi, began in November 2023 with the release of George Mann's novel The Eye of Darkness. [5] The series' television series includes Young Jedi Adventures (2023–present) and The Acolyte (2024).
The High Republic era was a golden age for both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order who were both at the height of their power. Importantly, it was a time of peace for the Republic and the Republic was expanding into previously unreached areas in the Outer Rim. The Jedi Order worked as a distinct entity separate from the Republic and the Order was at its most diverse and transparent, donning golden robes and wielding the Force to a much greater extent. The Jedi were primarily based on Coruscant but a number of Jedi Temples were scattered across the galaxy on every major Republic planet. [6]
"Project Luminous" was started in September 2018 with invitations to Star Wars authors including Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, Cavan Scott, and Charles Soule to Skywalker Ranch, with Lucasfilm offering them a "blank slate" in determining the project. [7] Lucasfilm had teased "Project Luminous" in April 2019, prompting intense fan speculation. [8]
On February 24, 2020, Lucasfilm announced a new series of comics and novels called Star Wars: The High Republic, intended to be a publisher-only multimedia project, unrelated to any films in development. A trailer was released showing events taking place two centuries before the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. It shows the Jedi at the height of their power and rise of the Nihil. [9] [10]
The series was originally intended to debut with the Light of the Jedi novel in August 2020, a few days before Star Wars Celebration 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until January 2021. [11] The first chapter of the novel was released in June 2020 through IGN . [12] In November 2020, the second chapter of the novel was released on StarWars.com, followed by the next six through the Penguin Random House website. [13] [14] In December 2020, Disney released a free digital sampler of early chapters of the first phase of High Republic books and comics, revealing the main characters for each series. [15]
On Disney Investor Day 2020, it was revealed that Leslye Headland's The Acolyte series for Disney+ would take place during the late High Republic era. [16] Shortly after, Tencent began releasing Star Wars: The Vow of Silver Dawn, an e-book created specifically for Chinese audiences in collaboration with Lucasfilm. The Vow of Silver Dawn also takes place near the end of the High Republic era. Lucasfilm has stated that they currently have no plans for an English translation and release. [17]
On January 4, 2021, a day prior to the release of the first novels, Lucasfilm hosted a launch event where it gave more information regarding the works released following the first batch of novels and comics. This included the fact that Star Wars Insider would have monthly short stories as part of the publishing initiative, written by Scott and Ireland, several newly announced books releasing in the summer of 2021, and that the first phase of The High Republic would last into 2022. The second phase was given the name Quest of the Jedi, and the third, Trials of the Jedi. [18] [19]
Phase II takes place during an Age of Exploration, 150 years prior to the events of Light of the Jedi. [48]
While the short stories in Phase I were written by a variety of authors, Phase II's short stories were all written by George Mann under the title "Tales of Enlightenment" (Mann has also authored a Phase II middle-grade novel Quest for the Hidden City, and the audio drama "The Battle of Jedha"). Published in Star Wars Insider, the stories are all centered in and around Enlightenment, a Jedha bar. [49]
A sixth short story, "Missing Pieces" is to be published in March 2024 as part of a collected edition of all the "Tales of Enlightenment" stories, by Titan Comics. [57]
The events of Phase III follow the events of The Fallen Star, returning to the timeline established in Phase I.
In the first week of its release, the event's debut novel Light of the Jedi was the #2 best selling novel on Amazon, [71] and #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list of hardcover fiction, staying on the list for four weeks. [72] [73] A Test of Courage, which released on the same day, debuted at #2 on The New York Times list for children's middle grade hardcover books, staying on the list for two weeks. [74] [75] The third novel, Into the Dark, gained similar success by debuting on #1 on the list for young adult hardcover novels. [76]
The first two issues of Marvel's The High Republic comic book series were the best-selling digital comics on Comixology during the week of their release. [77] [78] The first issue sold over 200,000 physical pre-orders to comic book shops, prompting Marvel to create a second printing of the issue before its official release, as well as third and fourth printings shortly after. [79] [80]